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Force vs Lions and 'tahs headline WA Festival of Rugby

The Western Force’s tour match against the HSBC British & Irish Lions as part of the DHL Australia 2013 Lions Tour and Super Rugby fixture against the NSW Waratahs headline the WA Festival of Rugby set to take place in Perth next week.

The festival begins on Saturday, 1 June and runs through to Sunday, 9 June with in excess of a dozen key events making up the nine-day rugby celebration.

The British & Irish Lions begin their once-in-12-year Australian tour in Perth on Wednesday, 5 June when they take on the Emirates Western Force at Patersons Stadium. The Lions last played in the Perth during their previous venture to Australia in 2001, when they defeated a Western Australian squad 116-10 at the WACA. Click here to book tickets to watch the Emirates Western Force take on the British & Irish Lions. (See Special Ticket Offers below)

The Force will hold an open training session on the Monday prior to the match at McGillivray Oval, with all supporters invited to attend, watch the side prepare for the historic match and meet the players afterwards.

The Emirates Western Force will back up four days later to take on the Waratahs in the Force’s penultimate home match for the 2013 Super Rugby season. The two sides last met in Sydney in Week Seven on this year’s tournament when the Waratahs edged out the Western Australian side, 23-19. Click here to book tickets to watch the Emirates Western Force take on the NSW Waratahs at nib Stadium. (See Special Ticket Offers below)

The WA Festival of Rugby will also feature the annual Country Carnival, pitting the best sides from country WA against one another; country trials for the WA side to contest the National Women’s Rugby Championship in Sydney in September; Round Nine of the Pindan Premier Grade, including a top-of-the-table clash between Cottesloe and Nedlands as a curtain-raiser to the Force and British & Irish Lions clash; as well as a plethora of junior rugby and coaching courses throughout the week.

“This was a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate our great game, culminating in Emirates Western Force matches against the British & Irish Lions and NSW Waratahs,” he said.

“There’s a very proud history of rugby in Western Australia and with the significance of the Lions tour we wanted to showcase the full spectrum of rugby in the state.

“Western Australia is such a rapidly growing and passionate rugby centre and it’s an exciting time to be involved with the game here.

“I’d encourage everyone to take part in what will be a great rugby festival by attending a match or event during the week, and enjoy our great game and everything it has to offer.”

In addition to the recognised WA Festival of Rugby events, rugby clubs across the city will be hosting their own functions to celebrate the match against the British & Irish Lions during the week.

2013 WA FESTIVAL OF RUGBY – Special Ticket Offers

· Purchase a Silver ticket to watch the Emirates Western Force take on the British & Irish Lions at Patersons Stadium (Wednesday, 5 June) AND to play the NSW Waratahs at nib Stadium (Sunday, 9 June) for just $80! Click here to take advantage of the Two-Game Silver Package.

· Present your ticket from the Emirates Western Force v British & Irish Lions match to any Ticketmaster outlet or Game Day Box Office at nib Stadium on Sunday, 9 June to receive $25 off any Gold or Silver ticket to see the Emirates Western Force play the NSW Waratahs at nib Stadium (Sunday, 9 June).

DON'T MISS THE LIONS FIRST GAME IN AUSTRALIA! TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE LIONS vs THE FORCE CLICK HERE

2013 WA FESTIVAL OF RUGBY

Saturday, 1 June

· Country Carnival

Eight teams from country Western Australia will converge on Pat O’Hara Reserve, Morley for the two-day Country Carnival Saturday, 1 June and Sunday, 2 June). The Kalgoorlie Stormers will be chasing back-to-back tournament titles after edging out the Kalgoorlie Bushwackers in last year’s final, 13-3. Women’s and junior teams will also be involved in the carnival.

· WA Women’s State Trials (Country)

The state’s premier country female rugby players will trial in a bid to earn selection for the Western Australian side to contest the 2013 National Women’s Rugby Championships in Sydney in September. The trials will take place at Pat O’Hara Reserve, Morley. Perth-based players will be viewed and selected during the season.

· Smart Rugby Coaching Courses

Budding coaches from across the state will take part in Smart Rugby Coaching Courses across the weekend. Planned to coincide with the 2013 Country Carnival, the courses will cover all elements of rugby and provide an entry-level accreditation for prospective coaches.

Monday, 3 June

· Open Training Session

The Emirates Western Force will hold an open training session for supporters at McGillivray Oval ahead of their historic match against the British & Irish Lions at Patersons Stadium on Wednesday, 5 June. The open session will begin at 9.30am.

Tuesday, 4 June

· RugbyWA British & Irish Lions Function

RugbyWA will host an invite-only function for former state players at its Floreat headquarters ahead of the Emirates Western Force’s historic match against the British & Irish Lions.

· Combined Schools Competition Semi-Finals

The Combined Schools Competition (CSC) enters the business end of the tournament with the Opens and Year 9 age groups contesting their semi-finals. Semi-final matches will continue to be played throughout the week.

Wednesday, 5 June

· Emirates Western Force v British & Irish Lions

The best of the British Isles converge on Patersons Stadium to take on the Emirates Western Force in the first Australian fixture of their three-Test tour. Click here to book tickets to watch the Emirates Western Force take on the British & Irish Lions.

· Curtain-raiser: Cottesloe v Nedlands

Front-runners Cottesloe and Nedlands face off in a match that could decide the top position on the Pindan Premier Grade ladder as the halfway point of the competition nears. The match will take place at Patersons Stadium as the curtain-raiser prior to the Emirates Western Force’s match against the British & Irish Lions.

Friday, 7 June

· Under 9’s Under Lights

Four Under 9 sides will follow in the footsteps of their Emirates Western Force heroes, when they take to the training fields at RugbyWA to play under lights. Junior players will also receive a tour of the club’s rugby facilities while Emirates Western Force players will also be in attendance.

Round Nine of the Pindan Premier Grade continues with Perth Bayswater travelling to Tompkins Park to play Palmyra, Rockingham hosting Wests Scarborough at Port Kennedy, Wanneroo and Associates squaring off Kingsway Reserve, while UWA heads to Hartfield Park to play Kalamunda. First Grade matches kick-off at 3.30pm.

· Joey Junior Rugby Carnivals

More than 50 teams aged from Under 6’s to Under 10’s will showcase their rugby talent at Rockingham and Wanneroo as part of Bankwest Junior Rugby.

Sunday, 9 June

· Emirates Western Force v NSW Waratahs

The Emirates Western Force takes on the NSW Waratahs at nib Stadium in Week 17 of the 2013 Super Rugby competition. The Force will be looking to avenge the 20-15 score line from the last time the two sides met in the Perth in 2012, and build on their 19-18 win over the Highlanders. Click here to book tickets to watch the Emirates Western Force take on the NSW Waratahs at nib Stadium.

· Curtain-raiser: FESA v WA Police

Representatives from the Fire & Emergency Services Authority (FESA) take on the XV from the WA Police. The match will take place as a curtain-raiser prior to the Emirates Western Force’s match against the NSW Waratahs at nib Stadium.